Pope John Paul II yesterday met with the members of the Pontifical
Commission for Latin America, and told them that the region needs more effective
evangelization to counteract "the insidious problem of sects."
Speaking first in Spanish and then in Portuguese to the group - which has been
meeting in plenary session this week, with Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re
presiding - the Holy Father called for "in-depth evangelisation, the
continuous and active presence of pastors, bishops and priests among their
parishioners, and a personal relationship of the faithful with Christ."
He added that the Church in Latin America must also preserve a "preferential
option for the poor."
The rapid development of Protestant sects in the region - particularly in
Brazil - has commanded Vatican attention. In January, a special conference on
that problem was held in Rome, co-sponsors by the Latin American bishops with
the Pontifical Councils for Christian Unity and for Inter-religious Dialogue.
The Vatican has decried efforts by sect leaders to promote religious
conversions through social or economic pressure, or inaccurate promises. But
the Pope reminded his audience that the most effective response to sects is an
energetic preaching of the Gospel by committed Catholics.